4 Wiley Farm
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Our Winners
  • For Sale
  • Why Minis?
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • In Motion
  • Shop Our Farm
    • Merchandise
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Our Winners
  • For Sale
  • Why Minis?
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • In Motion
  • Shop Our Farm
    • Merchandise

This is Us​ - our life, our story, our farm

The Ohio Beef Expo...2016 Edition

3/26/2016

0 Comments

 
Last weekend we attended the Ohio Beef Expo.  As in past years, we had a great time.   This year there were a total of 53 head of Miniature Herefords.  It was a big increase from last year, and we were glad to see the increased interest in the show.  We competed against breeders from Indiana, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Arkansas and of course, Ohio.  

We entered Six and Rain in the show.  We usually try to take more head to the Ohio Beef Expo, but we just didn't have any other cows of eligible age.  That's o.k....we didn't have to work quite as hard this year.  
Picture
Wednesday afternoon, Daniel hopped in the truck, picked up the boys from Grandma's house and headed to the Ohio State Fairgrounds.  I met them there after work.  
Hitching a ride at the Ohio Beef Expo
We had the trailer loaded with all of our tack and equipment.  We unloaded and set up the fan cage and got all of the signs and the rest of our display in place.  There were a few other Ohio breeders already there, and we took advantage of the early night to enjoy dinner out together.  
Thursday morning we got up bright and early and loaded the cows onto the trailer.  ​
washing cows
Once we arrived at the fairgrounds we hurried to grab a place at the wash rack and got everyone washed and dried. 
scratching a clipping Miniature Hereford
Our fitter arrived at about 9:00 a.m. to begin doing the rough clipping on the heifers.  We decided to hire a fitter this year....because they are just better at clipping than we are, and Daniel gets a little stressed out on show day.  We decided that it was better to be able to relax a little and visit with the many people that came to watch the show, than to be scrambling around trying to get everything done by show time.  It was well worth the money.  
Miniature Hereford hair
And what a pile of hair...
Picture
Rain did not want to stand still for the fitter, so Walker was on scratching duty.  It wasn't long before boredom got the best of him.
early morning at the Ohio State Fairgrounds viaducts
Friday morning started off before daylight with another trip to the wash stall.  We got them washed and dried early so that we could avoid the wash rack congestion.  Then, we let the girls rest and relax back in their stalls.  We knew it was going to be a long day with a lot of standing, and we wanted them as rested as possible.  
fitting a Miniature Hereford
About 12:15 p.m. the fitter was back to get ready for the show.  ​The show ended up starting an hour late because the show before us went late.  It gave everyone some time to talk, relax, make final adjustments and get and give final pointers.
Miniature Hereford open show
You can spend countless hours at home working your cows, but cows are just like kids, and you never know if they are going to behave in public or not.  Sometimes nerves get the best of cows too, and they can turn on the idiot gene in the show ring.  

When Isaac walked into the show ring with Six, I knew that all the puzzle pieces were falling into place.  Six did not make a wrong move and performed her best.  What amazed me even more was Isaac.  Everything that anyone has ever told him to do...he did.  He was the perfect showman.  It is a rare moment when cow and kid mesh so perfectly at the moment when it counts the most.  I wish I had thought to take a video, because it was a phenomenal moment to watch.  He sure made his mom and dad proud!
Division Champion banner
Six won her class and then went on to win Champion Spring Junior Heifer Calf.
Miniature Hereford open show at Ohio Beef Expo
Fall & Winter Intermediate Heifer Champion banner
Walker did really well with Rain.  They won their class and then went on to win the Fall & Winter Intermediate Heifer division.  
Miniature Hereford final drive
I love seeing the boys in the ring together, especially when it is the final drive.  Believe it or not, Isaac and Walker are not competitive when they are showing against each other. Now...when it comes to who gets to take a shower first, the competition is on.  
Reserve Grand Champion heifer
Six was chosen as Reserve Grand Champion Heifer!
Picture
Saturday morning we were back bright and early.  We got the cows fed and settled into their stalls in the sale barn.  Isaac and Walker headed off to the youth judging contest while Daniel and I talked with visitors walking through the sale barn.  

Isaac and Walker joined with their cousin again this year to form a judging team.  Their team placed 19th out of 44 teams.  Isaac ended up placing 19th out of 140 participants in the individual scores.  Not bad for a group of boys who have had not official coaching or judging training.  

Isaac and Walker were going to compete in the junior showmanship competition on Saturday afternoon, but at the last minute decided to scratch.  Everyone was tired, including the cows, we still had to tear down in the sale barn and we wanted to go through the vendor area one last time.  We knew Sunday was going to be a very long day, so we took advantage of a somewhat earlier night.
Junior show Miniature Breeds final drive
Sunday was the BEST junior show.  One other heifer stayed over from the open show so we had a total of 3 miniature heifers.  It is not many, but it is a step in the right direction for keeping a miniature breeds division in the BEST program.  Each of the heifers was in a different age class, so they each won their respective classes.  For the overall breed champion, the judge switched things up and chose Rain.  Six was the reserve champion.

Rain was also chosen Best of the Buckeye.  Best of the Buckeye is an award just for cattle that have been bred and born right here in Ohio.  This is a way for Ohio to promote and reward the breeders of our state.  
The day had already been very long, but we stayed an extra 3 hours so that Rain and Walker could participate in the heifer final drive.  We don't have a chance competing against the big boys, but it is an honor to show along the best of the best.  It is also a great opportunity for us to promote the miniature breeds.
Rain was tired and did not appreciate having to go back into the show ring.  She was right next to the exit and knew it.  She fought Walker the entire time and he had to work his tail off to keep her in line.  By the time he got back to the stall he was in tears from frustration and exhaustion.  We reminded him that it was an honor to be there, and...the faster we got the trailer loaded, the sooner he could take a nap. 
Whispering to his cow
We have special memories from each Ohio Beef Expo that we have attended.  This year was no different.  So much time and effort is put into each show, and it is always fun to see it all come together.  We were very blessed this year to take two cows and come home with two titles.  

Isaac won an new belt buckle and had the difficult decision of deciding which buckle to keep and which one to pass down to his brother.  Walker didn't care which buckle he got, just as long as it had a cow on it.  

In other news....

You can now follow us on facebook, and as always, you can find us on instagram.

You might also like...
Home at Last
The 2015 Ohio Beef Expo
The Slap
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Let's Connect

    Picture

    Author

    Hello!  I am Heather... the city girl turned mom to manure loving country boys. My husband and I both grew up in the city, but spent weekends visiting grandparents in the country.  We are first generation farmers who learn best by almost always doing things the hard way.  I hope you enjoy following along with our adventures down on the farm.

    Shop Our Farm

    Archives

    January 2025
    March 2024
    October 2023
    September 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014

    Categories

    All
    10 On The 10th
    Books
    Calving
    Character
    Everything Else
    Food
    Hay
    How To
    Photography
    Showing
    Things We Love

    RSS Feed

    Popular Posts

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

The Cows

​Why Minis?
Our Winners
For Sale

The Family

Home
About Us
Contact Us
Disclosure

Follow Us

Blog - Down on the Farm
Instagram
You Tube
Facebook

Associations

​Miniature Hereford Breeders Association
American Hereford Association
Ohio Cattlemen's Association